Intel and others plan to release a new version of the ubiquitous Universal Serial Bus technology in the first half of 2008, a revamp the chip maker said will make data transfer rates more than 10 times as fast by adding fiber-optic links alongside the traditional copper wires. Intel is working with fellow USB 3.0 Promoters Group members Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, NEC and NXP Semiconductors to release the USB 3.0 specification in the first half of 2008, said Pat Gelsinger, general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group, in a speech here at the Intel Developer Forum.

Yes the cable will be different, but they might be able to make it work with the same plugs, just like with USB 1.0 and USB 2.0. So if you have a USB 3.0 plug into a USB 2.0 port it'll just work at 2.0 speeds. That might be possible, but I'm just talking w/o looking at any specs here.